The long wait is over. Brandon and Jayden Hylton have finally played together on the same team. As promising as that may have been for Stetson University and its coach Steve Trimper, the immediate results surely has everyone at the Deland, Florida-based program pinching themselves.
The Hylton brothers, separated by four years in age, combined to go 11-for-22, hit three home runs and drove in 15 runs in Stetson’s season-opening three-game sweep of Manhattan.
With freshman Jayden batting fifth and junior redshirt Brandon batting sixth, Stetson unleashed a torrent of runs as it rolled past Manhattan 18-0, 9-1 and 8-6.
All Jayden did was hit a home run in his first college at bat on Friday and string together a weekend in which he batted .545 (6-for-11) with two doubles, the two-run homer and 7 RBI. He threw in two stolen bases and a diving catch in right field for good measure. He also reached base at a .583 clip and slugged at an even 1.000 for a gaudy OPS of 1.583. The ASUN Conference named Jayden its Player of the Week.
You’d think with those numbers, Jayden Hylton’s conference Player of the Week was a slam dunk. Not so. The ASUN surely had to give lefty-hitting Brandon Hylton serious consideration, as well.
Big brother answered little brother’s home run on opening day with two of his own, a solo shot and a grand slam. And Brandon batted .455 (5-for-11) for the three-game series and drove in 8 runs. A .500 on-base percentage and 1.182 slugging percentage has Brandon’s OPS at a staggering 1.682.
Next up for Stetson and the red hot Hyltons is a trip to Miami on Tuesday and a return home to face Delaware this weekend.